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UNION leaders have described the departure of Portsmouth’s final naval ship build as a ‘sad day’.

Gary Cook, GMB union regional organiser with responsibility for shipbuilding, said work still needs to be done to help members who have not found a new role.

Gary Cook

‘It is an extremely sad day, not only for the people who work here but for Portsmouth’s maritime history,’ he said.

‘I am sadly very sceptical that any serious operation will be on the site with quality jobs in the short term.’

As many as 200 people of the 940 affected are still to be found a new role or take a redundancy package.

Councillor John Ferrett, leader of the city council’s Labour group and Prospect negotiator, added: ‘It is a very sad day for all those who have worked down there. There is an irony this is leaving on the day postal ballots are sent out for Scottish independence.’